MLP FIM: Season 4 Rise of the A.M. (a what if story)

Chapter 13: Exposed

“I have too do this…” Dark Heart thought to himself in his room. “I have to tell the truth! I might be banished, but at least I’ll go knowing that they will have a heads up! But will it be enough?”

Dark Heart knew that what he would be doing would mean betraying his family’s cause, but what good is the cause anyway? They haven’t seen what he’s seen living in enemy territory. All the things he’s been told proved to be false for the most part. Sure there are a couple of ponies who bully others, but its not an epidemic like he’s been told. The ponies he’s met, the friendships he’s made… There’s that word again, as he ponders on the thing he thought would never become part of his reality. For as long as he’s lived in the mountains the only thing he ever knew was survival and to be strong. He had no time for such things that his father considered to be paths to betrayal. Dark Heart got up from his bed and looked at his empty living space for what he knew would be the last time.

There was knock at his door followed by fast galloping. Dark Heart looked outside, but saw no signs of anyone around. Looking down he saw that a letter had been left for him. Back inside he opened the envelope and sighed as he prepared to do what had to be done.

“I guess if there was a better time to tell them, this would be it.” He thought to himself.

Princess Celestia had invited him to have lunch with her and Luna in the Castle. Shrugging, Dark Heart left his room and hurried so he wouldn’t keep the princesses waiting.

When he arrived at the front doors he saw Swift looking over a scroll he had just unrolled.

“Ah, Dark Heart.” He said spotting him. “What brings you here this evening?”

“The princesses have invited me,” said Dark Heart.

“Ah, of course,” said Swift Blaze rolling up the scroll. “Celestia sent me to escort you.”

“Oh, no, I can find my way really,” said Dark Heart wanting to not spend more time with the strange earth pony.

“I insist,” said Swift, his mind already made up.

He led Dark Heart to he dinning hall where the two princesses sat in wait. The table had been set with sandwiches fruit and fine wine. When Dark heart entered the room the door closed behind allowing the two Alicorns to stare at him.

“Arthur, I’m glad you could make it,” said Celestia casually. “Please have a seat.”

Dark Heart glanced at Luna, but she only twirled her levitating glass around lazily making no eye contact. He figured he should sit across from Celestia, but not be so close to Luna. Once he sat down he summoned one of the sandwiches to him and was about to ask he could get a drink when a creature entered the room and filled his glass. Dark Heart couldn’t help but to stare up at him. While the body of the creature was serpentine the rest of him was a mixture different kinds. One leg was that of a dragon while the other was hoofed. One arm was a lions paw and the other was a griffons front claw. He also had the head of a goat, a horn of elk, a horn of something unknown to Dark Heart, and the tail was a sea dragons.

“Thank you Discord,” said Cellestia kindly.

“Of cure your, highness,” said Discord bowing his head.

“I trust that this time the drink is real and not another cheap trick?” Celestia said her voice calm but her eyes surveyed Discord skeptically.

Before Discord could respond Dark Heart sputtered as he spat out what he thought had been cider. It tasted of things he dared not to utter.

“Oops, my mistake,” said Discord sheepishly.

With a snap of his fingers he conjured up another bottle of wine and second glass. Dark Heart took the glass and stared at it as if daring it to explode.

“That will be all Discored,” said Celestia.

Discored bowed his head once again and left the room leaving the three in an awkward silence.

“Princess,” began Dark Heart finally after a long pause. “What is he doing here?”

“He is a new friend,” said Celestia simply, but her eyes closed as she sighed. “But still he manages to pull his pranks every now and then. Of course they’re all minor. Nothing like it used to be, but still we keep a close eye on him just incase.”

Dark Heart didn’t want to eat or drink so he ignored his plate and sider and knew that if there was anytime like the present, he would tell them the truth. He stared down at his plate of food his expression resembling someone who was having a battle with themself. Gulping he prepared to take a leap of faith and tell them everything.

“I’m sorry what was that?” said Celestia when he had spoke, but it came off as a mumble.

“Th… There’s something I have to tell you… Both of you...”

Luna looked at the Dark Heart. She saw that he was determined to tell them something of great importance.

“I…I…” but before he could finish the door swung open and Swift made his way to them with three guards accompanying him.

He wore a serious look as he approached the table. His eyes met Dark Hearts. He glared at him and the three guards started their way to them.

“Swift, what’s the meaning of this?” Luna said for the first time since Dark Heart arrived.

“Your highness, I’m afraid I have discovered a snake in the castle!” said Swift Blaze still glaring at Dark Heart. “One who has slivered their way into the castle and has been doing their spy work in secrecy! You wouldn’t know anything about would you boy?”

“Swift, don’t be ridiculous!” said Luna. “Dark Heart’s one of us aren’t you?”

Dark Heart didn’t look at her.

“You are one of us right?” said Luna this time sounding worried.

“Luna I...”

“Wait, is what Swift said true?”

“I’m afraid so,” said Swift. “This Unicorn you see before you is nothing but a treacherous lying snake! He is… a member of the Anti Marks!”

The guards were now flanking Dark Heart and Celestia rose from her seat. Whatever warm presents she gave off had vanished. What looked at Dark Heart was an Alicorn with no smiles or twinkles in the eyes. She looked like a true leader now as she said very seriously, “Is it true?”

“Yes,” said Dark Heart looking at her.

Swift nodded at him looking disgusted. “I think we’ve heard enough! Guards, take him!”

The Guards approached Dark Heart with caution and gently lifted him out of his chair. Dark Heart didn’t want to look at his fellow guards as they made to escort him out of the dinning room. He knew that he was going to be placed in the dungeon, but as they were feet away from the table he realized something and stopped dead in his tracks.

“What are you doing? Move!” ordered one the guards.

“How did you know what it stood for?” asked Dark Heart turning his shoulder to look at Swift Blaze.

“Knew what, what stood for?” inquired Swift Blaze.

“The initials of the flag, no one knows what it means unless…”

Dark Heart’s eyes widen with anger as he turned around and attempted to fling himself at the earth pony. The Guards held him back as he struggled to get to the shocked pony that glared at him.

“Take him away!” Swift Blaze spat. “Get him out of here and lock him up!”

The struggle down to the dungeon carried as Dark Heart yelled at the guards telling them that there’s one more traitor amongst them.

“You have to listen to me!” he said pleadingly. “Swift isn’t who he says he is! He’s a…”

But the guards had already tossed him in a cell and slammed the bares on him.

“He’s like me! He’s an A.M.!”

“Silence prisoner!” roared one of the guards. “You lied to us! Why should we trust anything you have to say?!”

Dark Heart gritted his teeth and knew that they had a point. Why would they want to listen to him now? He knew what Swift Blaze was and if he ratted him out, that would only mean that he knew that he would pose a threat to him if he were planning something. Something bad from the looks of it, otherwise he would’ve let him on it regardless of his suspicions. The sound of the upstairs door opening caught every ones attention. Dark Heart saw Princess Luna coming into view. She was wearing a very angry look indeed as she made her way to the cells.

“Leave us,” she said.

“Princess, I must suggest that you let us stay.” A second guard said.

“I’ll be fine,” said Luna.

Just like her sister she spoke calmly, but her eyes flashed dangerously at the guards who reluctantly left her alone with Dark Heart. For a moment the two stared at each other. Dark Heart knew if she was mad now he would hate to have told her about what happened the day she and his father met in the mirror.

“Why?” she asked finally “Why would you do it?”

“It’s not that simple,” said Dark Heart.

“Don’t give me that!” said Luna warningly. “How long did you think you would be able to keep up your charade?! My sister trusted I trusted you…We all trusted you!”

“Luna you have to understand, I don’t want to carry out my mission anymore,” said Dark Heart. “Yes, I was entrusted by the leader of the A.M. to infiltrate Canterlot.”

“Well congratulations, you did,” said Luna harshly.

“That’s right I did and for a while the plan was working, but then something changed, I… I discovered something while living here. I never had anything like it before and once I had it I realized that I never wanted to loose it,”

“And what was this thing you speak of?” Luna said waspishly.

“Friendship,” replied Dark Heart. “You, Princess Celestia, and my fellow guards showed me what it means to have friends. I… know what I’ve been missing all this time.”

“As touching as that may seem, you are a prisoner!” spat Luna. “And being one you have to tell me, what are the A.M.’s intentions?”

“I don’t know, it could be anything,” said Dark Heart.

“Liar!” roared Luna slamming her hoof on the cell door. “Do not lie to us!”

“I’m telling the truth!” said Dark Heart just as loud. “I have no idea what they plan to do. They never told me anything! But that’s not important now! It’s not just me who’s lied to you, there’s somepony else in the castle that serves the A.M.!”

“Who is that then?”

“Swift Blaze. He’s planning something and what ever it is, he ratted me out because he knew who I was!”

“Why would Swift Blaze be an A.M.?!”

“Because nopony other than an A.M. member would know what those initials stood for! A.M. stands for Anti Marks. You heard him say it up there, Tell me, how could he have known what it stood for when nopony else knew besides me?”

“He must have figured it out somewhere along the way and was planning on telling our sister and me,” said Luna quickly.

“No, Luna. It’s like I said. Only members of the A.M. know what those letters stand for.”

Luna didn’t answer; she just turned her back to him and left. Celestia visited Dark Heart seconds later. Surly this must be a plan to make him reveal the A.M.’s plot, but he was speaking the truth when he told Luna that he didn’t know what the A.M. was going to do. Expecting to be asked the same questions by Celestia, Dark Heart told her everything he had told Luna. When he had finished Celestia looked at him in the same way King Sullivan had at the ball. She was looking right through him, her expression remained blank.

“Tell me what did you to my sister on the day she went to visit you?”

Dark Heart was taken aback by this question, but answered it none-the less.

“I never knew she was going to visit me, “ he began. “I was on patrol when I heard a scream coming from somewhere and I went to investigate. When I found her she was under my father’s spell. He was trying to bring Nightmare Moon back. I told him that his plan could still work without her, but he was determined to get Luna on our side. In the end I intervened, the mirror was broken and I erased Luna’s memory so she wouldn’t remember where she was before she awoke.”

Celestia gave out a sigh of understanding. Clearly she had known something was wrong and now it all made sense.

“You said something about a mirror,” she said going back to what she had learned.

“Yes, the mirror my father gave me for communication while I was here,” said Dark Heart.

“And your father? Who is he?”

“He is the leader of the A.M. Night Blade.”

Celestia nodded and she too made to leave.

“Wait aren’t you going to do something about Swift Blaze?!” Inquired Dark Heart.

“I need some time to think things over,” said Celestia. “But, I thank you for helping my sister.” She added in her kind understanding voice.

Dark Heart was left alone in his cell for some time after that. He thought that the word of his arrest would by now have spread and the rest of his fellow guards must’ve known the truth. He sat on the cold stone floor wondering what could Swift Blaze be doing at this time and a surge of frustration went through him when he wasn’t hearing the door at the top of the steps open with the angered shouts of a caught Swift Blaze carry all the way to his own cell. Just when he was beginning to think no one would believe him the door opened once more and a much gentler voice called out to him.

“Dark Heart, if you wanted to escape you could have, so why haven’t you? No guards are watching you.”

It was Twilight. She approached his prison and looked at the saddened unicorn before her.

“I know I could’ve escaped,” said Dark Heart coldly. “But what good would that do me? You all know I’m a traitor, and my own family in the mountains probably think the same thing! Logically speaking it makes no sense to run away with nowhere to go now does it?”

Twilight straitened up at this and for the first time Dark Heart saw that she was taking her role as a leader very seriously.

“Look kid, I get that you’re the new princess and all, but I’m finding it hard to take you seriously.”

“That’s funny,” said Twilight. “I was about to say the same about you. You don’t strike me as a member of the A.M.”

Dark Heart looked at her. Could she have believed what she has been told? Before he could express his hopeful emotions the door opened again, this time, the pony that entered wore a smug so wide that Dark Heart thought it should be banned. Swift Blaze came down the stairs taking each step slowly as if to saver the moment.

“Princess,” he said to Twilight. “I thought this might be where you disappeared to. There’s no need to question the prisoner any further. For your own safety you should come with me and we shall send a couple guards down here to keep an eye on him.”

“I doubt he will escape Swift,” said Twilight. “He hasn’t shown any signs of that.”

Swift Blaze’s polite attitude shrank and he insisted in a forceful voice that Twilight should accompany him back to the castle halls. Dark Heart glared at the earth pony who paid him no attention and reached out a hoof for Twilight to take. Dark Heart had a bad feeling about this and was about to warn Twilight when forgetting that he was still in the castle grounds, loosing all of his pretense, Swift Blaze took a small vile out of his vest and slammed it on the ground where a puff of gas was released and both Twilight and Dark Heart fell to the ground unconscious. He picked up Twilight and rushed back up stairs. Dark Heart opened his eyes unsure of how long he had been out. The next thing he knew is that hooves helped him up and a soft voice said,

“You were right about him,” “He’s got her! Their cornered at the edge of the falls!”

Not knowing who had helped him regain consciousness, Dark Heart had no time to wait around and find out. Making his way dizzily to the steps he made his way through the castle halls to the outside. The sun greeted him making his eyes see spots. Blinking them away, he felt the knock out gas wear off. He broke off in a gallop to where he heard the sounds of guards shouting orders to one another. He heard someone behind him and saw Arthur running after him. Not to catch him, but to catch up. The two ran right passed the guards ignoring their cries of surprise of an escaped prisoner. Teleporting out of their reach they reappeared feet in front of them and continued in their pursuit.

“Where am I?” Twilight said in a groan.

“Be quiet!” snapped Swift Blaze. “I hate being delayed, why didn’t you just come when I asked you to?”

“So he was right about you?” said Twilight drowsily.

“Oh, he was right, but it didn’t do you any good did it?” said Swift Blaze.

Twilight tried to teleport her way out of their hide out, but it was no use. Feeling her horn she felt something metallic on it. She could try to fly away but she wasn’t in the state to do that. Her wings felt heavy and her head was spinning.

“Come on, come on!” she heard Swift Blaze say irritably. “Where are you?!”

The sound of rushing water met her ears and she could feel the mist hitting her face. The wet floor she laid on was soggy and smelt of socked moss. The sun made the water look yellow as its light shun down on the watery curtain. Staying beside his frantic self, Swift Blaze was completely unaware that two unicorns had snuck into their hiding spot. Arthur placed his hoof on Twilight and teleported them both out of harms way with a small pop.

“Soon my princess you will meet my master, and who knows, he might let you join us if you cooperate.”

When no answer came he turned only to have the tip of a horn poke his back.

“One wrong move and I’ll blast you off the cliff,” said Dark Heart warningly.

“Are you really going to betray your family by siding with them?” asked Swift Blaze.

“I thought you already made that decision for me when you threw me under the carriage?” said Dark Heart. “It’s over Swift, give up to the royal guards.”

“I forgot to tell you…” said Swift Blaze staring into the distance. “I follow my own rules.”

He sighed and pointed his hoof to the spot where a mark would be.

“I’m a blank flank too you know? And what the A.M. is about to do will change history.”

Dark Heart’s eyes widened as he suddenly understood what his father must be planning.

“Have you lost your mind?!” shouted Dark Heart in disbelief. “There’s no way that will make things any better!”

“I wouldn’t expect somepony like you understand,” sighed Swift Blaze and as quick as a cheetah he turned around to face Dark Heart, his hooves were on his horn.

“You are either with us or against us!” spat Swift Blaze.

He saw Dark Heart's worried expression as he tried to shake free.

“If only you understood what it's like to be judged by others just for the way you look, you would understand why the A.M.’s ententions are good.”

“Swift Blaze please! Nothing good will come out of this!”

“My decision has already been made boy. And now it’s your turn…”

Swift Blaze pulled Dark Heart’s horn forcing him to cast a burst of magic that hit the earth pony in his stomach. Dark Heart saw his body being launched outside of the waterfall and out of sight. At the edge of the falls, Celestia had spotted Arthur standing beside Twilight and she hurried over to help her student. Twilight’s brother had outran Celestia and in seconds knelt beside her giving off a sigh of relief seeing that she was safe.

Out of the corner of her eye, Celestia saw Dark Heart immerge from the path behind the falls. The Guards quickly blocked his way and were about to cuff him when Celestia walked over.

“Swift Blaze…” she said, but she didn’t need to answer for her to guess what must have happened.

“Shall we send out a search party?” asked one of the guards.

“Please do,” said Celestia.

“And as for the escaped prisoner?”

“He is no threat,” said Celestia reassuringly. “I think somepony had already discovered that.”

She glanced over at Twilight, who, from the looks of it, was feeling better and was trying to tell her brother that she was alright.

“Thanks for getting me out the cell,” said Dark Heart to Arthur who had came over to tell Celestia that her Student was apart from being knocked out hours ago, was unharmed.

“Don’t thank me,” said Arthur, “I was only waiting for you by the door.”

“Then who…”

His answer was given to him when Luna landed with ease beside her sister.

“Is Twilight alright sister?” she asked worriedly.

“She’s fine Luna,” said Celestia.

“Thank you Princess,” said Dark Heart bowing to the princess of the night.

“What ever,” said Luna refusing to look at him. “Just don’t let me regret it alright.”

“Not a chance,” said Dark Heart with a smile.